Chalazion (Child)
A chalazion is a blocked, swollen oil gland in the eyelid. The eyelids have oil glands that lubricate the inside of the lids and the surface of the eye. If a gland becomes blocked, the oil builds up and causes the skin to swell.
A chalazion can vary in size. It may appear on the inside or outside of the lid. In most cases, it's on the upper lid. The skin may be a normal color or red. A chalazion is often not painful. But it can cause mild pain, soreness, sensitivity to light, eye discharge, and increased tearing.
A chalazion often lasts from a few weeks to a month and goes away on its own. A chalazion can be mistaken for an oil gland infection (a stye). That's because they both appear on the eyelid.
Why a chalazion forms
It’s often unclear why a chalazion appears. But a chalazion can develop when you have any of the following conditions:
Home care
If your child’s health care provider finds that a chalazion is infected, they may prescribe an antibiotic drop or ointment. Follow all instructions for giving this medicine to your child. Don’t give any medicine for this condition without first asking your child’s provider.
How to give eye medicine
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Using eye drops. Apply drops in the corner of the eye where the eyelid meets the nose. The drops will pool in this area. When your child blinks or opens their eyelid, the drops will flow into the eye. Use the exact number of drops prescribed. Be careful not to touch the eye or eyelashes with the dropper.
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Using ointment. If both drops and ointment are prescribed, give the drops first. Wait at least 3 minutes, then apply the ointment. Doing this will give each medicine time to work. To apply the ointment, start by gently pulling down the lower lid. Place a thin strip of ointment along the inside of the lid. Begin at the nose and move outward. Close the lid. Wipe away excess ointment from the nose area outward. This is to keep the eye as clean as possible. Have your child keep the eye closed for 1 or 2 minutes, so the ointment has time to coat the eye. Eye ointment may cause temporary blurry vision. This is normal. Apply ointment right before your child goes to sleep. If your child is an infant, ointment may be easier to apply while they're sleeping.
Follow these guidelines when caring for your child at home:
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Wash your hands carefully with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after caring for your child’s eyes. This is about how long it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" from beginning to end 2 times. This is to help prevent infection.
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Apply a warm compress for 10 to 15 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. A warm compress is a clean towel that's damp with warm water.
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After the warm compress or as directed by the health care provider, gently massage the area to help drain the chalazion. An older child may be able to massage their own eyelid with adult supervision.
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You and your child should never try to pop or squeeze the chalazion.
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Your child shouldn't wear eye makeup until the chalazion has healed or as otherwise directed by your child's provider. When eye makeup can be worn, only use new products. Throw away the old makeup.
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Your child shouldn't wear a contact lens until the chalazion has healed or as otherwise directed by your child's provider.
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Once a day, clean your child's closed eyelids with baby shampoo or a moist eyelid cleansing wipe. Ask your provider about products to clean eyelids. This helps prevent the return of a chalazion and clogging of the eyelid duct.
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Encourage your child to wash their hands often. This helps reduce the chance of dirt and bacteria coming into contact with the eyelid.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your child’s health care provider, or as advised. If the chalazion doesn't heal in 4 weeks, your child may be referred to an eye care provider, such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist, for further evaluation and treatment. Your child may also see an eye care provider if they have a large chalazion.
Special note for parents
Carefully wash your hands with soap and clean, running water before and after caring for your child’s eyes. This helps to prevent spreading infection. Make sure that your child washes their own hands before and after touching the eyelid. Teach your child how and when to wash their hands.
Call 911
Call 911 if any of these take place:
When to get medical advice
Contact your child's health care provider right away if:
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Your child has a fever (See “Fever and children” below).
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The chalazion returns to the same area repeatedly.
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Pain, warmth, redness, drainage, or other existing symptoms don’t get better, or they get worse.
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Your child's vision changes, such as trouble seeing or blurred vision.
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New symptoms appear, such as:
Fever and children
Use a digital thermometer to check your child’s temperature. Don’t use a mercury thermometer. There are different kinds and uses of digital thermometers. They include:
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Rectal. For children younger than 3 years, a rectal temperature is the most accurate.
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Forehead (temporal). This works for children age 3 months and older. If a child under 3 months old has signs of illness, this can be used for a first pass. The health care provider may want to confirm with a rectal temperature.
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Ear (tympanic). Ear temperatures are accurate after 6 months of age, but not before.
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Armpit (axillary). This is the least reliable but may be used for a first pass to check a child of any age with signs of illness. The provider may want to confirm with a rectal temperature.
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Mouth (oral). Don’t use a thermometer in your child’s mouth until they are at least 4 years old.
Use the rectal thermometer with care. Follow the product maker’s directions for correct use. Insert it gently. Label it and make sure it’s not used in the mouth. It may pass on germs from the stool. If you don’t feel OK using a rectal thermometer, ask the provider what type to use instead. When you talk with any provider about your child’s fever, tell them which type you used.
Below are guidelines to know if your young child has a fever. Your child’s provider may give you different numbers for your child. Follow your provider’s specific instructions.
Fever readings for a baby under 3 months old:
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First, ask your child’s provider how you should take the temperature.
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Rectal or forehead: 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
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Armpit: 99°F (37.2°C) or higher
Fever readings for a child age 3 months to 36 months (3 years):
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Rectal, forehead, or ear: 102°F (38.9°C) or higher
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Armpit: 101°F (38.3°C) or higher
Call the health care provider in these cases:
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Repeated temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher in a child of any age
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Fever of 100.4° (38°C) or higher in baby younger than 3 months
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Fever that lasts more than 24 hours in a child under age 2
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Fever that lasts for 3 days in a child age 2 or older